Dynamic TCAS Advisory Geometric Body Shape Alteration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) advisories on flight displays require pilots to scrutinize static shapes for varying threat severity, making it difficult to quickly identify and react to changing proximity and altitude-related threats.
Innovation Solution
The method involves dynamically altering the shape and angle of geometric bodies representing avoidance regions on the flight display in response to TCAS advisory severity, using reshaped trapezoids or other geometric shapes that change in proportion to aircraft proximity, with contrasting colors and fill styles to create a 'floor' and 'ceiling' effect, aiding pilots in assessing allowed and avoided areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If static trapezoidal shapes are used to display TCAS advisories, then the display structure is simple and easy to implement, but pilots cannot quickly identify varying threat severity and must scrutinize static shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transforming static trapezoidal advisory shapes into dynamic visual elements that automatically alter their geometric properties (angles, arc lengths, areas) based on real-time threat severity data. The avoidance region shapes continuously adapt to reflect changing proximity and altitude-related threats, enabling pilots to quickly perceive threat levels without manual intervention or complex additional displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes and contrasting fill styles to encode different levels of threat severity within the geometric bodies. By varying colors and fill patterns dynamically, the system provides intuitive visual cues about advisory severity, allowing pilots to rapidly assess threats without increasing overall display system complexity.
2Loss of information
If dynamic reshaping of geometric bodies is implemented to indicate threat severity, then pilot reaction time is improved through clear visual indication, but the complexity of the display system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by modifying specific geometric properties (individual angles, arc lengths, or areas) of the avoidance region shapes based on local threat characteristics. Different portions of the geometric bodies can be selectively altered to represent different aspects of threat severity, providing detailed information clarity while maintaining efficient processing through targeted rather than comprehensive modifications.
3Measurement precision
If geometric bodies are altered in proportion to aircraft proximity, then the visual representation accurately reflects dynamic threats, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring threat levels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetry by creating geometric bodies with deliberately unequal and non-uniform shapes that reflect the asymmetric nature of aerial threats. The avoidance regions are distorted to match the actual spatial relationship between the aircraft and threats, providing precise threat representation while the asymmetric shapes themselves serve as intuitive visual indicators of threat direction and severity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of visually indicating an advisory from a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) on a flight display (10) of an aircraft (2), the method comprising receiving a TCAS advisory, determining a severity of the received TCAS advisory, displaying a geometric body (134, 136, 234, 236, 334, 336) on the flight display in response to the TCAS advisory, and altering a shape of the displayed geometric body (134, 136, 234, 236, 334, 336) in response to the determined severity wherein the shape of the displayed geometric body (134, 136, 234, 236, 334, 336) may be altered by altering at least one of an angle and an arc of the geometric body (134, 136, 234, 236, 334, 336).